Hostellerie de l'Abbaye de la Celle
Housed in a former abbey in the quiet Provençal town of La Celle, Hostellerie, owned by chef Alain Ducasse (right), is everything you want from a French hotel. Service is friendly but never fawning, while the 10 rooms are simple but smart, with views over the manicured gardens or the town square below, where locals play boules by streetlight. But it’s the food you really come for. Breakfast and lunch are served on the terrace, where the warm Provençal air blows through the trees as you enjoy pillowy croissants, hand-pressed juices and homemade jam. As for dinner… in the Michelin-starred kitchen, miraculous things are done with local ingredients. Will you come back a dress size larger? Entirely possible. Will you ever want to leave? Definitely not. From £210 per night; Abbaye-celle.com/en